Japan, Russia to have peace talks next week

Senior Japanese and Russian officials will hold talks next Wednesday in Tokyo on a postwar peace treaty, which the two countries have not signed due to a territorial row over Russian-held, but Japanese-claimed, islands, Koyodo quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida saying Friday.

The meeting will be the second of its kind, after one in Moscow last October, and follows an agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May to adopt a "new approach" in resolving the peace treaty issue.

"I hope for forward-looking and fruitful discussions" at the upcoming talks between Chikahito Harada, the Japanese government representative and ambassador in charge of Japan-Russia relations, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, Kishida said.

Source : MENA